F. Alton Erickson

F. Alton Erickson (Al) passed away May 5, 2021 in Mesa, Arizona. Born in Stratford, Iowa in 1924, Al was the oldest child of Mildred and Floyd Erickson. He was predeceased by his wife of 72 years, Doris and a brother LaVerne and a sister LaVonne. He is survived by his brother Kenneth, three children, Richard (MaryAnne), Robert (Ann), and Sue Lilly (Rod), four grandchildren, Christopher, Courtney, Shauna and Stefanie, and two great-grandchildren, Gavin and Greyson. Al was raised on a farm in central Iowa during the depression, growing up without electricity or indoor plumbing until he reached high school. He attended DePauw and Purdue Universities as an officer in training for the U.S. Navy and ultimately graduated from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. While there he was president of his fraternity, Delta Tau Delta, and also met his future wife. He spent his career with Co-op, later known as Farmland Industries, first in Des Moines, Iowa and then in Kansas City, Missouri. The family hosted an exchange student from Sweden, (home to Al’s forbearers) which led to a lifelong interest in other cultures. He and Doris were justifiably proud of their association with an international officer training program, sponsoring officers and their families from all over the world. This led to many lifelong friendships and visits to many countries in their retirement. He was active in church throughout his life and always singing in the choir. Al and Doris moved to Arizona in 1996, where they enjoyed entertaining, golfing and singing in the Leisure World choral group. He always had a nice word for those he met along the way and will be greatly missed by family and friends.